All-white two-wheeler honors bicycle accident victim

Specifically, the somber two-wheeled machine that has appeared in Jackson Township is the Joe Mahon Ghost Bike.

Gary Brown CantonRep.com Writing Editor-at-large @gbrownREP

They call the all-white bicycle a ghost bike.

Specifically, the somber two-wheeled machine that has appeared in Jackson Township is the Joe Mahon Ghost Bike. The painted bicycle was placed by the side of the road at the well-traveled intersection where the 60-year-old Mahon — an avid bicyclist — was killed Oct. 9 when the bicycle he was riding to work was struck by a dump truck.

The bicycle sits at the base of a utility pole, slightly beneath the surface of the adjacent roads. Grass beneath highlights its outline.

Some motorists easily spot the bright white handlebars, seat, frame and tires as they pass by the bicycle. Others are oblivious to the ghost bike as they go about their daily driving routine.

And that inattention — both to the ghost bike and bicyclists in general — is what Richard Grella, sponsor liaison and publicity chairman for Stark Velo Cycling Team, wants to change.

"We didn't all know him, but we knew of him," said Grella, whose bike racing team is associated with the Stark County Bicycle Club. "We know some of his family. We're all part of a bicycle community.

"We hope to honor Joe in this way and to bring awareness of cyclists and their safety to many people who pass through that intersection."

A ghost bike, whose every part is painted white, is akin to a rider-less horse, meant to remember and pay respect to a bicyclist who was lost.

The Jackson Township ghost bike commemorates an outdoors enthusiast who rode with bicycle clubs in both Stark County and Sarasota, Fla. It remembers a man whose profession was advertising — he owned Mahon Commercial Advertising Studios in Canal Fulton — but whose avocations included bicycling, scuba diving, fishing and skiing.

"As far as I know, this is the first ghost bike in Stark County," said Grella.

2 Who helped erect the ghost bike?

A friend of Mahon's in Sarasota, Paul Troyer, communicated with Grella about creating some memorial to Mahon. Stark Velo Cycling Team took on the project, completing the painting of the bicycle and placing it in a prominent position.

The bicycle itself was donated by Ernie's Bicycle Shop in North Canton.

"It's a road bike," said Grella, "It was chosen because that's the kind of bicycle Joe was riding at the time of the accident."

3 Where is the Stark County ghost bike?

The Joe Mahon Ghost Bike sits on the northwest corner of the T-shaped intersection of Mudbrook Street NW and Lutz Avenue NW, where it can be seen by motorists in both directions and anyone passing through the juncture on Mudbrook.

"It sits on the right of way, near a fence, attached to the utility pole," said Grella. "I talked with the nearest residents, and they had no problem with it."

The placement of the bike was personal for Grella and other area bicyclists.

"I've been through that intersection at least a hundred times," Grella explained. "It could have been me or one of my other friends."

4 When was the ghost bike placed there?

Although the ghost bike was brought to the intersection only Sunday morning, the concept of the memorial was formed in Grella's mind long before Mahon was killed.

"I go to Cleveland once a week for business, and I see a ghost bike every week on my way," explained Grella, who said that the ghost bike pays respect to a woman bicyclist — a college professor — who was killed in an accident. "I've seen it now for a couple of years."

With Mahon's death, a similar ghost bike seemed an appropriate memorial. Mahon's family was touched by the remembrance, Grella said.

5 Why was a ghost bike displayed?

As the ghost bike sits silently at the intersection, its dual purpose is served daily.

"We're trying to honor Joe, so his memory doesn't fade, so he didn't die in vain," said Grella. "Maybe some safety awareness can come out of this.

"We're hoping that it will open some eyes, and make people aware of the need to share the road with bicyclists. We are out there and there are more of us than motorists might realize."

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